Jackie's Newport: America's First Lady and the City by the Sea

by Raymond Sinibaldi

Jacqueline Bouvier came to Newport when her mother married Hugh Auchincloss in 1942.
Jackie married John F. Kennedy in a most iconic Newport celebration. This book will explore the less-told anecdotes like the gown debacle that could have ruined the Kennedy nuptials.
Newport hosted the Kennedy's happiest times, and the town holds dear memories of this American queen. The tradition of tossing the bridal bouquet from the central stairs of Hammersmith Farm started with Jackie and continued long after. Jackie and her family spent summers here even while the White House was their main address.

Genres: Biography

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2019

Reviews

[Ken Proudfoot]

A 2019 book about Jackie Kennedy -- JACKIE'S NEWPORT: America's First Lady and the City by the Sea -- by prolific author Raymond Sinibaldi is a fascinating read with lots of hitherto unknown or lesser known facts and anecdotes about Jackie Kennedy and her family. For Newport tour guides, the photos and information about Jackie's relationship to the mansions of Newport, and her visits to The Breakers and The Elms will be of special interest.
She was apparently very supportive of the Preservation Society of Newport County (PSNC), erroneously described by the author as the "Newport County Preservation Society," and visited The Elms just two months after it was acquired by the PSNC and saved from the wrecking ball. A photo of her arriving at the front of this historic mansion accompanies the text.
Jackie also helped open her family's mansion and President Kennedy's "Summer White House," Hammersmith Farm, for Newport's "3rd Annual Mansion Tour" held in August 1961. More than 3,500 guests toured the home.
There are numerous anecdotes and facts about her fairy tale marriage to John F. Kennedy at St. Mary's in 1953 and her earlier life in Newport that will add new information to the presentations of Newport city guides and Newport mansion tour guides.

[John Hester]

Good, but a missed opportunity

I.definitely have mixed feelings about this book. First, it was certainly interesting, well researched and well written. Since the book is titled Jackie's Newport, I had expected it to revolve around the Newport locations relevant to Jackie's life, which it does for a while, but only for about the first half of the book. The rest, and nearly the entire second half of the book, focuses entirely on JFK's assassination and the days that follow, all taking place in Texas and DC. Newport is almost never mentioned again. Again, it's well researched and interesting, but it's well-trodden ground, and completely removed from the book's title.

For those of us familiar with Newport, I'm sure the expectation was that this book would be an in-depth examination of the people and places connected to Jackie in Newport. Unfortunately the author skimmed the surface of that topic before heading off in a completely different direction. Was there not enough information away to fill an entire book on the subject?

[Maryclaire]

The Goodreads description of the books covers almost everything. I have to add the very descriptive moments of the family times together. The times and comments of their marriage, the deaths of their children, and their time together. It covers the campaign travels to Dallas and a detailed description of the ride and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The Secret Service is staying with her and she is not leaving the hospital in Dallas, the Trauma room experience. She strongly insisting that she accompanies the coffin. The difficulty of the removal to Washington DC. between the doctors and the government officials. Newport was the happiest time for the family.

[Kristen]

Interesting topic with some nice images I had not seen before, but was disappointed the book ended with the end of the Kennedy presidency as Jackie continued to visit Newport and be a part of the community for many years after her husband’s death, including serving on boards of Newport-based non- profits and helping with various community issues.

[Jackie Polacek]

I'm always interested in reading about Jackie Kennedy. This book was well researched and moves quickly (although scattered). I expected to have more interesting facts about Newport and the time she spent there both before and after her time with JFK.

[Sandi Jones]

Very well written. I want to read more about Jackie's life after the death of John Kennedy

[Ashleigh]

A quick read…. Disappointed because I wanted to know more about Jackie and all I got was JFK…

[CB]

While I thought this book would be more about Jackie’s life in Newport, it was still an excellent read. It covers her growing up and through college and marriage, John’s presidency, their oversees trips, birth and deaths and that fateful trip to Texas all from Jackie’s point of view.

The book is very well researched and footnoted for accuracy. I do feel like it was a true representation of her words and actions.

After all these years there is still more to learn about her life and all of those important events.

Mostly I realized the office of the US Presidency no longer holds the respected position that it held in the past. You read about this country and the Kennedy’s and the class and education they brought to the WH. Camelot. Jack was a true leader and Jackie was brilliant and never made a misstep.

(Rant: Reading this book you realize the office of the presidency of the US has been denigrated beyond repair and all because of 45 and again as 47. He’s a classless felon with a dimwit wife who’s made the presidency of the US into world wide laughing stock.)

This is definitely a five star read that keeps you interested.